Stephen.
"Let me guess, you didn't cancel the contract like I told you to." I say immediately as Fernando quickly marches into my office on Monday morning.
"You're damn right I didn't. This is a good opportunity for the company. I'm not throwing it away over something as miniscule as a break up." He raises his voice suddenly.
"Miniscule?" I laugh dryly.
"That woman broke my heart, and my trust, and you say it's miniscule?" I question calmly.
"Well what the hell do you expect me to think? You never told me or anyone else the full story." He shouts back, his frustration evident.
He has a point. I didn't tell anyone the full story behind mine and Krys' break up. But why did they need to know the whole thing anyway? I fell for her, I thought she fell for me, and in the end, I found out that it was all just a lie. A ploy. A game.
"She turned out to be just like all the girls before her: A gold digging opportunist!" I say with vehemence, finally having had enough of this shift in conversation.
"I am so tired of this personal pity party you throw yourself everyday. Man up and tell me what the hell happened." He demands.
The anger leaves me, and is momentarily replaced by anguish. It's amazing how even after five years, the pain is just as strong as it was then. I take a deep breath, opting to give him the shortened version of the story.
"Fine. I had left town the evening before. There was an urgent issue at headquarters that dad wanted me to handle. I left, got on the jet, settled the issue, and returned home that following afternoon.
When I got to the manor, my parents were waiting for me on the couch. You know dad secretly never approved of my relationship with Krys, so when he told me he went to visit her, I was immediately wary. He told me that he had decided to finally give Krystina a chance, but before he could welcome her with open arms, he had to put her to the test. Make sure that she was really in it for me, not the name, fame, or money. The night I left, he went to her house and offered her one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to leave me. No phone call, no note, no goodbye. Just a clean break. And she did it. I tried calling her when I landed in London the next day, but the number had been disconnected." I tell him, hating the fact that it still affects me so much.
"So that's why I'm not so keen on the idea of you working with her. She always told me that she would never be able to put a price on what we had. But she did. One hundred thousand dollars." I chuckle with no humor. "That's how much our love was worth to her."
I can tell by the look on Nand's face, that he doesn't know what to say.
I don't blame him. At the time, she seemed so harmless. So incapable of intentionally inflicting pain. The girl he thought he knew, no longer exists. His impression of her is subconsciously changing by the second.
My mind's made up.
I glance at the time. It's barely noon, but I don't care. "Look, I'm gonna head out a bit early. Take care of some personal business." I hesitate for a moment before solidifying my resolve. "You can keep the contract with Paramount." I tell him, almost missing the surprise look on his face as I walk out.
____________
For some reason the house feels even more lonely that usual today.
Fuck. She's in my head.
I throw my briefcase on the kitchen counter before walking over to the liquor cabinet and pouring a glass of Vodka.
Walking back into the living room and laying on the couch, the Vodka eases my troubles, and I let my mind wander.
It's been weeks since I've been in the company of another female. Even longer since I've had one share my bed.
Although I'm attractive and reasonably charming, this lack of romance doesn't come as a shock to me.
My ego isn't bruised.
I realized the truth years ago.
After a string of failed relationships, and a string of "friends with benefits", I knew. I knew that as long as I was alive on this earth, and there was breath in my body, that I would never love another woman the way I loved Krystina Green.
It was a harsh realization. One I tried to drown out with meaningless sex, late nights at the office, and early mornings at the gym.
It wasn't fair.
I took another long drink from the glass.
But life isn't fair.
I set the glass on the table and sat up.
But I can make things fair.
I can even the playing field a bit, can't I?
Yes. Yes I can.
I grin to myself and I rise from the couch, grab the keys to my Porsche, and walk out the door.
_______________
I pull up to the building, parking right in front.
I make my way inside, my strides steady and quick.
With one look at the directory on the wall, and with what I learned from the background check, I head for the elevator: seventh floor.
When I reach the floor, I immediately head past the receptionist and Secretary stations and head for the large office at the end of the walkway.
The faint "Sir, you cannot go back there without an appointment!"
And "I'm calling security.", Are the least of my worries.
Her head snaps up as soon as I storm through the office.
"Hello, Ms. Green." I grin coldly. "You and I have some businesses to attend to."
_____________________
Special thank to dumosibbs Forever_Bae14 and youngmoney-x for voting on the last few chapters.
I really want to set a specific day to update, but things are so hectic. I'd hate to set a date and then not deliver, but right now , I think I'm updating every 9-10 days.
Or something like that.
Just an FYI
ANYWAYS...........he just stormed into her office?!?!
I'm not sure if that counts as a cliffhanger, but Ohhhhhhhhh drama lol.
We got a little insight into the their history...........what do you things going down? I'd love to hear your theories.
Don't forget to comment and VOTE. 10 votes for the next chapter please.
I'm super happy and amazed at how well this story is doing. Were almost at 700 reads!!! That's incredible.
Thank you guys so much for your support. I really do appreciate it.